Seam protector for boilers



9, 3948. ANDERSON 2,437,534

SEAM PROTECTOR FOR BOILERS Filed Spt. 11, 1944 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Mar. 9, 1948 SEAM PROTECTOR FOR BOILERS John E. Anderson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Plibrico Jointless Firebrick Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 11, 1944, Serial No. 553,617

4 Claims. (Cl. 110-97) This invention relates to protecting means, and has to do with means for protecting seams, particularly girth seams, of boilers and analogous structures. 7

In the operation of boilers, commonly constructed of plates secured together by riveted lap joints, the boiler seams, particularly the lower portions of the girth seams, are subjected to the intense heat within the furnace and are also frequently subjected to sudden cooling, due to openv ing of the fire doors in attending to the furnace. Due to the lap joint construction of the seams and the sudden and wide temperature fluctuations to which they are subjected, cracking and leakage of the seams, particularly at the lower areas of the girth seams, frequently occurs. It is known to provide boiler seams with refractory cover or protecting means, to guard them against objectionable temperature variations and resulting cracking and leakage. Certain of such protecting means with which I am familiar comprise refractory blocks or members mounted upon hangers attached by screw means to supporting members or blocks secured between the heads of adjacent rivets of the lap joint of the boiler seam. In the use of the boiler such structures are subjected to considerable vibration and to expansion and contraction due to temperature variations. That incurs the risk of the screw or threaded connections becoming disengaged, either partially or completely, which destroys or materially reduces the efficiency of the protecting means. Further, the provision of a plurality of parts secured together by screw means is objectionable, necessitating undesirable complicated structure and in that it requires considerable time to assemble and secure the parts properly together, the time factor being of importance in cases where it is necessary to mount protecting means about the boiler seam when the boiler and the furnace are hot.

My invention is directed to the provision of means for protecting boiler seams and analogous structures, which is of comparatively simple construction and may be applied with expedition and facility. More specifically, I provide a one piece hanger of a character to be attached quickly to the boiler seam, at the rivet heads thereof, and refractory members or blocks of a character to be readily positioned upon and supported by the hangers. The hangers are of such character as to afford considerable area of support for the refractory blocks and are provided with elements efiectively reinforcing the heads of the hangers which enter the blocks, such elements also serving to restrain the respective blocks against tuming movement relative to the associated hanger. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary end view of a boiler with seam protecting means embodying my invention applied thereto, the latter means being shown partly in section with parts in elevation; Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2, certain parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary lengthwise sectional view of a boiler girth seam showing a modified form of protecting means embodying my invention applied thereto, the hanger and the rivets being shown in elevation; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary lengthwise sectional view of the girth seam of Figure 3, on a greatly enlarged scale, showing one of the rivets in elevation and the groove formed in the rivet head.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, I have shown the seam protector of my invention as applied to a boiler 5 of known construction, comprising a plurality of plates secured together by riveted lap joints. In Figure 2 I have shown two plates 6 and I disposed with end portions in overlapping relation and secured together by suitably spaced rivets 8, providing a girth seam 9 extending circumferentially about the boiler 5. It will be understood, or course, that the boiler may have a plurality of girth seams, depending upon its length, the size of the plates and related factors.

The protector of my invention comprises suitably spaced hangers ID and refractory blocks or tiles I I supported by the hangers in endwise contact so as to form a refractory shell or enclosure extending along the lower portion of the girth seam 9 and substantially enclosing it, there preferably being a packing Ha of asbestos or other suitable material between the respective tiles II and plate 6 of the boiler, i. e., between the tile and the mate of the boiler the end portion of which constitutes the inner lap of scam 9; It will be understood that the ends of the tiles I l constitute'the radii of the boiler 5 so as to fit snugly together in the manner shown, and. that the lengthwise curvature of the tiles correspond to the outer circumference of the boiler.

Each of the hangers l0 comprises a neck or stem I2 having at its upper end a head l3 sube stantially rectangular in plan, the sides of which are bevelled upward and outward at I4. The neck I2 is further provided, at the sides thereof, with downwardly diverging web elements I5 integral with neck l2 and with a lower head IS. The latter head is also substantially rectangular in plan and is of considerably greater length and width than the width and thickness of neck I2, extending a considerable distance beyond the latter, it being noted that web elements I5 are of the same thickness as neck l2, or substantially 50. In order to apply the hanger Ill to the boiler seam 9, the heads I! of two adjacent rivets 8 are provided, at opposed sides thereof, with grooves I8 of substantially V shape, conveniently by means of a cold chisel or other tool having an appropriately shaped edge which is driven between the rivet head I! and the outer face of boiler plate 1. After that has been done, the head I 3 of hanger Ill is driven between the adjacent rivet heads II with the upwardly inclined sides IA of head I3 tightly secured in the grooves 18, head l3 being, of course, suitably dimensioned for that purpose. The hanger ID may thus be secured tightly in position at the seam 9 with expedition and facility. A plurality of hangers are thus secured in proper spaced relation along the girth seam 9 of the boiler, and the refractory blocks or tiles H are then mounted upon these hangers. For that purpose each of the tiles H is provided with an upwardly opening grooveZEl therein, open at its ends. and of substantially T-shape in cross section, the upper portion of groove 29. being flared at 2| to provide clearance for the rivet heads. II. In that connection, it will also be. noted that the web elements 1.5 of the respective hangers Ill are spaced from head 13 a proper distance to assure adequate clearance for the rivet heads IT. The tiles II are slid lengthwise over the lower heads. 16 of the hangers Id and are sup ported thereby in endwise contact providing a refractory housing. enclosing and protecting the seam 9, in the manner above stated. It will be seen that each of the hangers is a one piece structure which may be quickly and easily secured in position between adjacent rivet heads. avoiding the necessity of threaded or other connections such as could become separated, either partly or completely, .by the effects of vibration and expansion and contraction. The web elements l5 of hanger I0 effectively reinforce lower head [6 and extend therefrom upward into the restricted neck 22 of tile II, restraining the latter from objectionable turning movement relative to hanger l0, assuring that the tile will be maintained in proper position upon the hanger. The protector as a whole is of simple construction, may be applied with expedition and facility and avoids the possibility of objectionable loosening or separation of parts, such as may occur where a multiple part hanger is employed.

In the modification of Figure4 hanger [0c is shown as having a neck I2a flaring toward head Ilia and of greater width than neck I2 of the hanger Ill of Figures 1 to 3', inclusive. The neck [2a is slotted from its upper end to. provide two arms l'2b defining between them an opening 20 adapted to receive head I! of a rivet 8. Each of the arms I2b is provided, at its upper inner corner, with a beveled element Ida adapted to fit tightly in a substantially V-shaped groove is formed in one side of the rivet head I! by a suitable tool. After the grooves have been formed in opposite sides of the rivet head II, the hanger I2a is forced over the rivet head with elements .4 Ma tightly engaging in grooves l8 and effectively securing the hanger Illa to the rivet. A suitable number of appropriately spaced hangers Illa are thus secured in position about the seam of the boiler, and refractor blocks or tiles I I are mounted upon the hangers as before. In certain cases, for example where the rivets of a seam are not uniformly spaced, it is desirable that the hangers be secured to individual rivets instead of between the heads of adjacent rivets. The modified hanger of Figure 4 takes care of such cases in a simple and efiicient manner.

It will be understood that changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope thereof, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred forms only of my invention have been disclosed.

I claim:

1. In boiler seam protecting means, a boiler having a riveted seam with the rivet heads projecting therebeyond, the heads of selected pairs of rivets having opposed grooves therein, substantially T-shaped hangers spaced along said seam each comprising a stem having at its end adjacent the boiler a first substantially rectangular integral head with beveled sides extending outward laterally from the stem at opposite sides thereof secured in the grooves of a pair of rivet heads and at its end away from the boiler a second substantially rectangular integral head extending outward laterally of the stem in all directions, and refractory protecting members respectively mounted on and enclosing said second heads of said hangers extending over and protecting said seam, each of said members having therein an interior lengthwise groove open at its ends of substantially T-shape in cross section receiving the stem and said second head of the corresponding hanger.

2. In boiler seam protecting means, a boiler having a riveted seam with the rivet heads projecting therebeyond, the heads of selected pairs of rivets having opposed grooves therein, substantially T-shaped hangers spaced along said seam each comprising a stem having at its end adjacent the boiler a first substantially rectangular integral head With beveled sides extending outward laterally from the stem at opposite sides thereof secured in the grooves of a pair of rivet heads and at its end away from the boiler a second substantially rectangular integral head extending outward laterally of the stem in all directions, and refractory protecting members respectively mounted on and enclosing said second heads of said hangers extending over and protectin said seam, each of said members having therein an interior lengthwise groove open at its ends of substantially T-shape in cross section receiving the stem and said second head of the corresponding hanger, the stem of the respective hangers having at the sides thereof web elements diverging toward and providing reinforcement for said second head, said Web elements extending into the stem area of said groove and lengthwise thereof a distance greater than the width of said stem area effective for restraining turning movement of said member relative to its hanger.

3. In boiler seam protecting means, a substantially T-shaped hanger comprising a stem having at its end adapted to be disposed adjacent the boiler a first substantially rectangular integral head with beveled sides extending outward laterally from the stem at opposite sides thereof for securement in opposed beveled grooves of adjacent rivet heads of a riveted boiler seam and at its end adapted to be disposed away from the boiler a second substantially rectangular integral head extending outward laterally of the stem in all directions, and a, refractory protecting member mounted on said second head of said hanger having an interior lengthwise groove open at its ends of substantially T-shape in cross section receiving the stem and said second head.

4. In boiler seam protecting means, a substantially T-shaped hanger comprising a stem having at its end adapted to be disposed adjacent the boiler a first substantially rectangular integral head with beveled sides extending outward laterally from the stem at opposite sides thereof for securement in opposed beveled grooves of adjacent rivet heads of a riveted boiler seam and at its end adapted to be disposed away from the boiler 'a second substantially rectangular integral head extending outward laterally of the stem in all directions, said stem having at the sides thereof web elements spaced from said first head diverging toward and providing reinforcement for said second head, and a refractory protecting member mounted on said second head of said hanger having an interior lengthwise groove open at its ends of substantially T-shape in cross section'receiving the stem and said second head of the hanger, said Web elements extending into the stem area of said groove and lengthwise thereof a distance greater than the width of said stem area efifective for restraining said member against turning movement relative to said hanger.

JOHN E. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 738,226 McMillan Sept, 8, 1903 779,371 McMillan Jan. 3, 1905 952,232 Cheney Mar. 15, 1910 1,223,781 Gage Apr. 24, 1917 2,089,908 Mackey Aug. 10,1937

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 426,570 Great Britain Oct. 26, 1933 471,427 Germany Feb. 21, 1929 

